A JUDGE has jailed a man who called his ex-partner and repeatedly to her he was going to kill her.

Paul Allen, 37, had also seriously assaulted his former girlfriend Cherie Broadhurst before their relationship ended, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Allen was issued with a community sentence and restraining order as a result of the attack, in a pub in Huddersfield Road, Oldham, last December.

But on May 12, he rang Ms Broadhurst to "sort things out", said prosecutor David Lees.

And when she refused to communicate with him Allen threatened that he was going to kill himself, Mr Lees told the court.

Two days later he came around, the court heard, but within a short while became abusive to Ms Broadhurst.

Allen, of Huddersfield Road, Oldham, left but returned to the property on a number of occasions that day, said Mr Lees.

When Ms Broadhurst refused to see him he rang her mobile around 30 times, the court heard.

Around 10pm she finally answered and told him she would be calling the police. He attempted to call again but she ignored him.

Arrested and interviewed by police, Allen made full admissions but claimed he had only gone around to the house to collect his Play Station console.

But he accepted he should not have been there and he was bailed by officers, on condition he did not contact his former partner.

Mr Lees said that same day he borrowed a friend's mobile phone and called Ms Broadhurst again.

"He said 'I will kill you' repeatedly down the telephone and she ended the call and called the police immediately," Mr Lees added.

Later Ms Broadhurst said the approaches and calls had made her left her feeling "on edge and anxious" because she didn't know what Allen would do next, the court heard.

The court heard that the defendant had a previous conviction for harassment and ahd also been convicted of attempting to communicate with an under-age girl for sexual purposes last year.

He had pleaded guilty on this occasion to harassment and two offences of breaching a restraining order.

Mark Fireman, defending, said his client suffered with mental health problems, a learning difficulty and had autism. He would often act inappropriately when faced with stressful circumstances.

But Allen had engaged with mental health services, after his last conviction, and was concerned that any custodial sentence would see him lose his accommodation, Mr Fireman added.

Jailing him for 11 months, Judge Sophie McKone said that despite his difficulties, the defendant had managed to have a steady work record and had made some progress with mental health services.

But the judge said his position had been aggravated by his previous record.

"Your behaviour towards her has understandably left her feeling scared and anxious," added Judge McKone.